MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA SUMMIT

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001371 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - ERIC BARBORIAK DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA SUMMIT ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies continued to give extensive coverage April 19 on the controversial battle over the ownership of the Sogo Department Store, in which First Lady Wu Shu-chen was allegedly involved; the local oil price hike; and the aftermaths of last weekend's KMT-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Economic Forum in Beijing. The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" ran a banner headline on its page two that quoted President Chen Shui-bian as saying in an interview with French "Le Figaro" that Taiwan's pledges with regard to cross-Strait relations remain unchanged and that he believes the United States fully understands it. Most Taiwan papers gave only moderate coverage of Chinese President Hu Jintao's U.S. trip and the upcoming U.S.-China summit. The pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, spent nearly half of its page four on this topic and ran a news story with the headline: "The U.S. Promises that It Will Not Discuss the Cessation of the National Unification Council during the Bush-Hu Meeting." The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" ran a banner headline on its front page that read: "The U.S. Will Urge China to Reduce Its Military Buildup against Taiwan." The pro-status quo "China Times" spent its page 13 on Hu's U.S. trip and what will be talked about during the Bush-Hu meeting. A "China Times" news story carried the headline: "Image Is the Key to the Success of Hu's U.S. Trip," and "China Times" Washington correspondent Norman Fu said in an article that Hu is the focus of attention in both the U.S. media and in Washington D.C. The pro-unification "United Daily News" also devoted nearly the whole of its page two on the U.S.-China summit; a news story by the newspaper's Washington correspondent was topped with the headline: "Bush Will Reiterate That the U.S. One China Policy Remains Unchanged." ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a "Liberty Times" editorial called upon the United States to put forth bigger actions and stronger pressure to push China to engage in dialogue with Taiwan's duly-elected government. Cao Changqing, a PRC-born freelance journalist currently residing in the U.S., wrote in the "Liberty Times" that the Bush-Hu meeting will hardly produce any substantive results primarily because the two countries have completely different systems and senses of values. Lin Chong-pin, president of the Foundation of Cross-Strait and International Studies in Taipei, said in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" that Beijing's current foreign policy is how it should approach the U.S., namely, "cooperation is more important than contradiction." A "China Times" news analysis said Bush, with only two years in office, will focus on short-term issues that impact U.S. domestic politics while Hu is more interested in developing Beijing-Washington ties from a long-term strategic perspective. An editorial in the limited-circulation, conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" said "Hu's new Taiwan policy of not wanting to push for unification and offering to carry out talks for peaceful development across the strait" may "help in his effort to talk Bush into adopting a firmer stance on President Chen." End summary. A) "The United States Should Push China to Engage in Dialogue with Taiwan's Duly-Elected Government" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] editorialized (4/19): "Having concluded the KMT-CCP forum, a big show of the united-front tactics, Hu Jintao departed for a visit to the United States. The fact that [U.S. President George W.] Bush and Hu have met many times over the past year showed that [Washington] has given the Chinese leader a big face. It is truly an irony that the United States, which always upholds democratic values, treats the totalitarian Chinese leader as an honorable guest. ... "Having undergone democratic reforms and rotation of political parties, Taiwan has proved itself to be a democratic and independent sovereign state. Washington should have accepted this fact based on [its criteria of the] U.S democratic values. But under China's strong pressure, the United States still insists on the 'one China policy,' which is in reality different from China's 'one China principle.' It is a great pity that Washington is still reluctant to recognize in public that Taiwan is a sovereign nation. ... "China's move to deliberately bypass Taiwan's duly-elected government stemmed from its intent to use the united-front tactics to divide and conquer Taiwan. Washington's call on China to contact Taiwan's duly-elected government demonstrates the United States' democratic values. But this newspaper discovered that if the United States does not put forth bigger actions and stronger pressure, China will surely do what pleases itself and will totally ignore Taiwan's elected government. At this moment when Hu is visiting the United States, this newspaper, as well as the majority of the Taiwan people, hope that Washington will pay more attention to Taiwan's elected government, respect the Taiwan people's choices, and not comply with China's schemes to divide, belittle, and eventually annex Taiwan, intentionally or not." B) "Bush-Hu Meeting: the United States Is Working with a Tiger to Try to Get Its Hide" Cao Changqing, a China-born freelance journalist based in the U.S., opined in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] (4/19): "... Hu Jintao has two main objectives to attain for his U.S. trip: that is, he wants to receive a red-carpet treatment as extended to the leaders of big nations so as to enhance his ruling prestige in China. Also, he attempts to draw the United States to its side in order to urge Washington to restrain Taiwan independence and criticize the Chen Shui-bian administration. ... "The 'Bush-Hu meeting' will not produce any substantive results primarily because China and the United States have totally different systems and senses of values. The meeting between Bush, a pious Christian, and Hu, an atheist who believes in nothing but violence, is like 'negotiating with a tiger for its hide - namely, to try to persuade someone to do what is against his interest.' ..." C) "China's Newfound Diplomatic Skills" Lin Chong-pin, president of the Foundation of Cross-Strait and International Studies in Taipei, opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (4/19): "... The cornerstone of Beijing's current foreign policy is how it approaches the US, namely 'cooperation is more important than contradiction.' It is based on a realistic assessment that military confrontation with the sole superpower now would be disastrous. The notion also reflects Beijing's confidence that time is on its side, which stems from the country's seemingly unstoppable economic growth. ... "The good news about Beijing's recently acquired diplomatic aplomb is that a war across the Pacific is less likely, as China prefers extra-military tools such as economic and cultural measures to the military options in its pursuit of great power status. The rapid modernization of the People's Liberation Army is mainly intended to boost Beijing's diplomacy, not intended for use in actual combat. The bad news is that those who anticipate the continuing US dominance of East Asia may face an uncertain future. An emergence of China without bloodshed will encounter less resistance, and therefore be more likely to succeed. When Bush and Hu meet this time, we should keep our eyes open for the third-party loser." D) "Bush Tends to Focus on Short-term Trading While Hu Is More Interested in Long-term Planning" Beijing correspondent Yu Hui-chien said in a news analysis in the pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] (4/19): "... Since the United States' domestic politics normally has a great impact on the U.S. president's foreign policy, Bush's focus in his meeting with [Chinese President] Hu Jintao will differ greatly than that of Hu's. Bush's remaining term of office is two years, but unless there is an accident, Hu's term will last until 2012. As a result, in terms of the issues that need to be discussed between China and the United States, Bush will focus on 'short-term' trading, centering on issues concerning the U.S. domestic politics. But for Hu, he can 'conceal his ability and bide his time' and try to develop Beijing-Washington ties from a long-term strategic perspective. ..." E) "Beijing Offering More Incentives to Taiwan" The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] wrote in an editorial (4/19): "The four proposals raised by Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday suggested a distinct shift in Beijing's policy toward Taiwan, a change that may boost China's attraction for this island and prevent it from drifting further away. Hu's new policy may also help in his effort to take George W. Bush into adopting a firmer stance on President Chen Shui-bian as he meets with the U.S. leader tomorrow in Washington. ... "Hu's new Taiwan policy of not wanting to push for unification and offering to carry out talks for peaceful development across the strait should resonate well with Washington, as the U.S. government as a basic position opposes any moves by either side of the Taiwan Strait to change the status quo. And it always encourages the two sides to hold talks as a way to reduce tensions in the strait. So the Beijing leader could have a better chance this time of persuading President Bush into adopting a firmer stance against Chen taking moves to pursue formal independence during his remaining two years in office. Chen infuriated both Beijing and Washington by abruptly announcing his plan early this year to abolish a 15-year-old advisory council that aims to promote eventual unification with the Chinese mainland." YOUNG